In Too Deep (8 page)

Nick paused and let out a long sigh. “Seth's cancer has spread. They've given him all kinds of treatments. Some of them have made him feel even worse. They told him he has maybe six months to live. Seth told Larry that. He was trying to arrange for a visit with Alex—he wanted to tell Alex in person. He was waiting for Larry to call him back.”

“And he didn't?” I said.

“Larry called, all right. But it wasn't about the visit. He had bad news for Seth.”

“What kind of bad news?”

“That Alex was dead.”

“Poor Seth,” I said.

“Poor Alex,” Nick said.

“What happened to him?”

“Suicide. At least, that was the coroner's ruling. The police up here did an investigation—guys at Larry's who knew Alex said that he'd become really quiet.”

“Maybe he was worried about his brother,” I said.

“That's what I thought,” Nick said. “But Seth doesn't believe it.”

“You just said that he told you Alex wasn't happy up here.”

“That's what Alex told Seth,” Nick said. “But Seth says Alex wasn't the kind of person to kill himself just because he was unhappy where he was. He'd be more likely to just take off, the way he did when he was in foster care. He always went back to Seth, even when Seth was in the hospital.”

“But if the guys at Mr. Wilson's place said he got quiet, maybe he was depressed—”

“That's what I told Seth,” Nick said. “But he's Alex's brother. He talked to Alex on the phone. He said Alex didn't sound depressed. He said he sounded unhappy, but that there's a difference between that and depression, and he's pretty sure he knows which is which. He tried to push the coroner to do some kind of inquiry. But no one up here saw any reason for it.”

“What does he think happened?” Morgan asked.

“I don't think he thinks anything in particular. But the guys there ... maybe Alex got into some kind of beef with one of them. Or maybe ...” He shook his head. “It could have been an accident, but Seth doubts it because Alex was a good swimmer. The thing is, Seth is going to die. Before he does, he wants to know for sure what happened to Alex. If Alex really drowned himself, okay, he says he's gonna have to accept that. It's really eating at him. He thinks he failed Alex.”

“It's not his fault he got sick,” I said.

“I know. He probably does too. But that doesn't stop him from wishing there was something else he could have done. He asked me to come up here and see what I could find out.”

“Does Mr. Wilson know why you're there? Does he know you knew Alex?”

Nick shook his head. “All he knows is that I saw a notice about his place at a youth center. Larry's Place. I called the number on it and talked to Larry Wilson. The next time he came to town, we got together. He explained his program to me. I asked him if I could be part of it. At first I thought he was going to say no. He asked me if I had a probation officer or something. I didn't want to get my social worker involved, so I said I didn't anymore, that I was living on my own and I wanted to make some changes. Maybe learn a trade. He finally agreed to take me.”

“And?” Morgan said, her eyes glistening with excitement. “What have you found out?”

He shrugged. “Not much. Larry told me when I arrived that if anything was bothering me, I should tell him. He said some guys keep things bottled up and that's not good—that they only make their problems worse. I don't know if he meant Alex, but I got the feeling he did.”

“What about the other guys out there? What did they say about Alex?” I said.

“I haven't talked to them about him yet. The guys who are there, they've been around, you know? They don't open up fast. You have to earn their trust before they'll talk to you. But I have to tell you, I've been here a week now and I really like the place. Some of the guys are kind of messed up, and Larry's strict. You screw up and he makes you deal with it. But he's fair, and he's a whole lot nicer than some of the social workers I've met. Plus I'm learning a lot about cars. Larry says I have a real aptitude. He asked me if I know anything about computers.”

“Computers?”

“Cars have a lot of computerized parts now,” Morgan said. “It's getting so you practically have to be Steve Jobs to work in an auto plant.”

“Larry says cars are getting more complicated to fix,” Nick continued. “Mechanics have to know all about that stuff now, but that if I work hard, I could maybe consider getting into something like that. It'd be a good living. He said I should think about taking some computer courses.”

“Do the guys out there go to school?”

“I talked to one guy who's been taking courses online. I think a couple of other guys are doing that too. But none of them go to an actual school. Not now, anyway. Larry says he hopes some of them will get their GEDs, but that right now most of them have other issues to deal with.” He glanced at the clock on my bedside table. “I should get going. I know some guys sneak out sometimes—some of them have had things going with local girls. But I also heard that if Larry catches you it's extra chores and no town privileges for a month.”

“How did you get here?” I asked. “Larry's place is half an hour from town.”

“I hitched a ride,” he said. “I hope I can hitch one back. If not ...”

“I could drive you.”

He shook his head. “If I get caught, that's one thing. But I don't want you involved. It could blow my cover.”

“Do you want me to talk to the police for you, see if I can find out anything?”

“I don't want you to do a thing. Besides, Seth already talked to the cops. They've made up their minds.”

“What about my dad? Maybe he can—”

Nick took my hands in his. “See, that's why I didn't want to tell you, Robyn. I figured you'd be off at camp and I could just poke around and see if I could find out anything for Seth.”

“I just want to help.”

“I know. But there's nothing you can do. I don't want to make a big deal out of this. Seth's a good guy. I just want to see what I can find out, you know, so he doesn't ... you do your job, Robyn, and let me do this for Seth.”

“How long are you planning to stay there?”

He shook his head. “I don't know. A couple weeks, I guess, until I get settled enough to start asking some questions or until I hear what guys are saying. Don't worry, I'll be fine. To be honest, I kind of like working on cars. Maybe I'll learn enough so that when I get back, I can buy myself an old beater and keep it running.” He stood up and said goodbye to Morgan.

“I'll take you across in the boat,” I said.

He shook his head. “Someone might see us. I don't want to take that chance. I haven't been out of the compound since I arrived, Robyn. It would be pretty hard to explain being seen in a boat with a girl, especially one who works at a newspaper. I'll go back the same way I got here. Besides, I stashed my clothes on the shore.”

“At least let me walk down to the dock with you,” I said.

When we got outside, he pulled me to him.

“I'm glad you're okay, Nick,” I said, squirming away from him. “But you shouldn't have lied to me. When I saw your tent in your apartment—”

“You were in my apartment?”

I had to backtrack and tell him about Beej's surprise visit.

“I was mad at you,” I added. “And worried. Really worried.”

“I'm sorry.” He tried to look suitably contrite. “It's just that—”

“Just that what?”

“I was kind of mad at you, too, going away for the whole summer.”

I peered into his eyes. “You mean you were going to miss me?”

“Things are so busy during the school year. I guess I thought we'd have more time together.”

I wrapped my arms around him, snuggled close, and tipped my head back so that he could kiss me. I didn't want to let him go. But after a few moments he eased himself free, and we walked hand-in-hand to the end of the dock.

“I wish I could stay,” he said.

“Can you call me every once in a while, let me know you're okay?”

“I'll see what I can do.” He sat on the edge of the dock, getting ready to slip into the water. I sat down beside him.

“Nick?” I said. “You don't think someone killed Alex, do you?”

Nick looked out over the water. “I don't know. I've been around a lot of guys like the ones at Mr. Wilson's place. I'm not saying it was premeditated murder or anything. But guys like that—they can do things without thinking. Maybe someone was giving Alex a hard time—or maybe Alex was giving someone a hard time. He could be like that, Robyn. Things can get out of control. Believe me, I know. And in places like that, guys cover for other guys.”

I squeezed his hand. I didn't know everything there was to know about Nick, but he had told me about some of what he had gone through—enough that I knew he was speaking from experience. “If there was something going on, if someone was responsible for what happened to Alex—directly or indirectly—I'm going to find out. It's the least I can do for Seth.”

“Be careful, Nick. Don't do anything stupid. And if you find out anything—anything at all—promise me you'll go to the cops. The chief of police here is a friend of my dad's. He can—”

Nick pulled me to him and kissed me again. “I'll be careful, I promise.” Then he eased himself into the water and swam off into the darkness. For a few minutes I followed his progress. Then a cloud slipped across the moon, and I lost him. By the time it reemerged from behind the clouds, Nick was gone. He could be so secretive and so frustrating. But whatever his shortcomings, he was a loyal friend. I didn't think there was anything Nick wouldn't do to help someone he cared about. I was just turning to go back up to the house when I saw something across the lake. Someone was standing on the dock at the marina. I couldn't make out who it was—it was too far and too dark. Well, if I couldn't see who it was, then that person couldn't see who I was or who Nick was—could they?

Morgan was still sitting on my bed when I went back inside.

“Wow,” she said. “Nick looks amazing in a bathing suit. I didn't know he worked out, Robyn.”

I had to admit he looked pretty good.

“But what's with those scars on his back? Was he in an accident?”

“A fight.” Nick had told me all about it. “It was a bunch of guys against Nick. If a pizza delivery guy hadn't intervened ... He was in the hospital for weeks, but it was a long time ago.”

“No wonder he works out,” Morgan said. “He looks like he can take care of himself now, if he has to.”

I hoped he wouldn't have to.

T

he days seemed to drag by after Nick's visit. I was sitting at the end of the dock the following Monday night, trailing my bare feet in the water and watching the sun set, when my phone rang. I picked it up eagerly and checked the display, hoping maybe Nick had managed to get to a phone. But it was my father.

“Robbie,” he boomed into my ear. “How are things in the fifth estate?”

“The what?”

“The press. How's it going?”

“I'm not exactly the press, Dad. I spent today at the beach, handing out free copies of the paper to tourists and summer people.”

“Good for you. It's all about eyeballs, Robbie.”

“If you say so. What's new with you, Dad?”

“That's why I'm calling. I have to go out of town for a little while.”

“How long?”

“A couple weeks.”

“But you promised Mom—”

“How is she anyway?” my dad said. “Have you heard from her?”

“She's fine. She called from Paris.” You wouldn't have known it by the conversation, though. All she wanted to talk about was road safety. “Dad, you promised her—”

“I know. Something came up. You'll still be able to get me by phone. I'll just be a few days away from you instead of a few hours.”

“A few days? Where are you going?”

“Singapore.”

“Singapore? What for?”

“Business. I'll be in a different time zone. Half the time I'll be in a different day. But you should be able to get hold of me anytime. If something comes up and you need someone right away, call Dean. Okay?”

I said okay. I considered telling him that I had run into Nick but decided against it. Nick wanted to do this on his own.

Morgan and her crutches thumped down to the end of the dock after I had hung up.

“Wanna watch a movie or something?” she said. Her summerhouse was equipped with a satellite dish. “We can make popcorn.”

“Aren't you waiting for Billy to call?”

She shook her head. “He's on a canoe trip. I won't be able to talk to him until the end of the week. So, how about it?”

“Okay.” I looked down at the business card I was holding. “Just let me make a call.”